Editorials
Friday, June 13, 1997AFTER years of earning a reputation as the United Nations' worst deadbeat member, the United States is moving closer to paying off much of its $1.3 billion debt to the world organization. It's about time. Paying off U.S. debt
to the United NationsMonths of negotiations between the Clinton administration and key senators, notably Jesse Helms of North Carolina, have produced an agreement on payment of $819 million in arrears.Under a proposal before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the payment would be conditional on the United Nations eliminating 1,000 jobs and cutting the U.S. share of U.N. expenses from 25 percent to 20 percent by 2000.
The agreement also would reimburse the United States for expenses in support of U.N. operations, such as evacuating peacekeepers from Somalia, and guarantee the U.S. a seat on the U.N. budget committee, from which it was voted off last year.
The United Nations places the U.S. debt at about $1.3 billion, but part of this amount is not acknowledged by Washington. Much of the difference comes from a unilateral American decision to pay no more than 25 percent of expenses for U.N. peacekeeping operations. The U.N. says the U.S. share should be 30 percent.
Although the formula for payment represents a significant breakthrough in terms of domestic politics, there is no assurance that the other 184 member countries will go along with the conditions attached. Such key provisions as the amount of U.S. assessments and restoring the United States to the budget committee would require majority approval in the General Assembly.
Some U.N. members resent what they regard as the United States' bullying tactics and may reject the terms. It may require skillful diplomacy by U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson, a former congressman from New Mexico, to win acceptance of the proposal. In fact, it may be impossible.
The possibility of rejection should be considered in Washington. The United Nations can't succeed without full support from the United States. It's about time Congress accepted the need to meet the U.S. financial responsibilities to the world organization. Although the conditions attached to the deal are desirable, the debt should be paid regardless of their acceptance.
AMERICA's love affair with guns is rooted in England, where Anglo-Saxons were required 1,000 years ago to own weapons. While the pioneer experience tightened Americans' grip on firearms, the British have realized their danger to society. The House of Commons now has overwhelmingly approved a bill to outlaw all handguns. Gun owners have until September to turn them in, and will be paid what the guns were worth in October 1996. British gun control
Congress is nowhere near approving such a broad ban. While some Americans may consider the British legislation extreme, most of the world regards America at the other extreme. How many Dunblane-style massacres on U.S. soil will it take for the members of Congress to come to their senses?
RICK Ralston started out alone 33 years ago air-brushing T-shirts and selling them to tourists in Waikiki. Now his Crazy Shirts Inc. and its sister company, TMC, have nearly 1,100 employees and 57 retail stores in Hawaii and on the mainland. It's a modern Hawaii version of the classic business success story. Crazy Shirts
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
